Question

a. complete the following tables and fill in the blanks on the sentences.
region\tcoastal plains\tnorth central plains\tgreat plains\tmountains and basins
climate\t\t\t\t
geography\t\t\t\t
industry/econ\t\t\t\t
in western texas the elevation is _____, in eastern texas the elevation is _____.
the result of this is that the the _____ region is the most wet, while the _____ region is the driest.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each Texas region (Coastal Plains, North Central Plains, Great Plains, Mountains and Basins) for climate, geography, industry, and elevation - moisture relationships:

Step 1: Coastal Plains

• Climate: Humid subtropical (mild winters, hot summers, high rainfall).
• Geography: Flat/low - lying, near Gulf of Mexico, includes forests and wetlands.
• Industry/Econ: Agriculture (cotton, rice), petrochemicals, ports (Houston), tourism.

Step 2: North Central Plains

• Climate: Temperate (moderate rainfall, distinct seasons).
• Geography: Rolling plains, grasslands, some forests.
• Industry/Econ: Agriculture (wheat, cattle), oil/gas, ranching.

Step 3: Great Plains

• Climate: Semi - arid (less rainfall, cold winters, hot summers).
• Geography: Flat grasslands, high elevation, wind - eroded landscapes.
• Industry/Econ: Ranching, agriculture (wheat, corn), oil/gas, wind energy.

Step 4: Mountains and Basins

• Climate: Arid (desert - like, low rainfall, extreme temps).
• Geography: Mountain ranges (Guadalupe, Davis), basins, desert landscapes.
• Industry/Econ: Mining (minerals), tourism (Big Bend), agriculture (irrigated crops).

Step 5: Elevation & Moisture

• Western Texas (Mountains and Basins, Great Plains) has high elevation (mountains, plains at higher altitude).
• Eastern Texas (Coastal Plains, North Central Plains) has low elevation (near sea level, flat plains).
• Coastal Plains is the wettest (proximity to Gulf, high rainfall).
• Mountains and Basins is the driest (arid desert climate, low rainfall).

Filling the Table (Summary):

Region	Climate	Geography	Industry/Econ
North Central Plains	Temperate	Rolling plains, grasslands	Agriculture, oil/gas, ranching
Great Plains	Semi - arid	Flat grasslands, high elevation	Ranching, agriculture, oil/gas, wind
Mountains and Basins	Arid	Mountains, basins, desert	Mining, tourism, irrigated agriculture

Filling the Blanks:

• In Western Texas the elevation is \(\boldsymbol{\text{high}}\), in Eastern Texas the elevation is \(\boldsymbol{\text{low}}\).
• The result of this is that the \(\boldsymbol{\text{Coastal Plains}}\) Region is the most wet, while the \(\boldsymbol{\text{Mountains and Basins}}\) Region is the driest.

Answer:

• Western Texas elevation: high; Eastern Texas elevation: low.
• Wettest region: Coastal Plains; Driest region: Mountains and Basins.
• (Table filled as per the summary above)